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DATE 06 July 2015 • ISSUE No. 178

The Simple Life in Nabawan (Malaysia)The Asrama Butitin is an innovated learning community of the De La Salle Brothers of Sabah and Sarawak. More than a hostel for students coming from villages beyond the  3 kilometer radius from the primary and secondary schools of the Nabawan town, it is also practical life skills formation centre.

Hostel boarders over the years is given the opportunity to grow in faith, to an enriched educational pursuit with the support programs of the Asrama and to experience basic life skills. A structured program is in place to ensure these opportunities are achieved and maximised each day.

The Brothers assigned in the Asrama had successfully initiated programs that has

enabled them exposure in cooking, baking, catering, gardening and computer literacy.  With the sustained interest of its generous partner-donors,  the Asrama is complete with facilities that can allow the boarders significant hours of hands-on experience on the vocational programs like a computer laboratory, a multi-purpose hall that has a kitchen complete with all the cookery and baking machines and equipments. 

Currently, it is offering to the boarders its newest program: Willingly I Speak English (WISE). The program hopes to train the boarders on basic conversational English. 

These initiatives are apart from their formal education they are getting from the primary and secondary school of the town which is just a stone throw away.

With all these opportunities, Asrama Butitin is committed to build a youth complete with necessary life skills of the 21st century. (Br. Butch Alcudia FSC)

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Philippine Lasallian Partners’ Council Workshop

The newly appointed Lasallian Partners’ Council (LPC) came together last 21 to 22 June 2015 for a planning workshop. Held at the Hotel Rafael in De La Salle University - Dasmariñas, the two days allowed the Council to look at the various areas of priority which they can focus on for the next seven years, anchored on the resolutions of the 2015 Philippine Lasallian Family Convocation (PLFC). I had the chance to join the LPC workshop to share a brief history on how the Council started in 2003 and to give them general directions with regards to LEAD.

Congratulations to the new LPC and be assured of my prayers and support!

The members of the LPC are as follows: Jay Gervasio (Chair)Mela Lazatin Fritzie De VeraJim TipayRitche BongcaronNelca Villarin

Terai BarcomaBob BerganteFlor EjercitoBev WidmaierKeane Palatino (Ex-officio)

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Live From La Salle Sangklaburi (Thailand)

We welcomed volunteers from St Bede's College, Australia. It is an on-going program that we have. This year, a group of boys from St. Bede's College, accompanied by their Brother Principal, Brother Garry Coyte FSC, together with teachers Mr Ben Wilson, Miss Laura came over to La Salle Sangklaburi. There are 10 boys including ex-student Mr Andrew Pulis. They have come along way from their homeland, Australia to be with the students to help the poor children at La Salle Sangklaburi. This year their project is to build a mini -multipurpose hall for kindergarteners. They are working very hard at their worksite with the rain pouring continuously more than 6 days. They spend their break time from work by playing with the students. it seems that they have a lot energy which can only come from God's love to play and to work.

On June 28, 2015 we celebrated the feast of St Peter and Paul. The Mass was presided over by our chaplain Fr Dominic Sarawin at the Brother’s Community chapel. After the Mass we went to Pom Pii View Point for a picnic. We had a lot of fun at this riverside. The volunteers and the students of Blue Sky Home enjoyed themselves swimming, playing and eating. Let us keep them in our prayer as they continue working. They volunteers will leave La Salle Sangklaburi on July 3 for Bangkok and will fly home on July 6. (Br. Benedict Chaiwat Panomwarochai FSC)

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Journeying With Hope (Japan)

On 29 June until 1 July the Sendai Diocese held he 5th National Assembly on the Reconstruction Assistance after the East Japan Earthquake & Tsunami. Out of the whole country, the effects of the 2011 triple disaster has been more felt in Sendai Diocese which comprises the three prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi (Sendai) and Iwate, in the Tohoku area of Japan.

About 100 people from all over the country, with representation of almost every Diocese of Japan gathered for the event. The first two days, divided on a group of about 40 people to visit the Fukushima area, and 60 people for Iwate and Miyagi areas, were devoted to know in-situ the current situation of the disaster zones still attended by Caritas on those places. The third day was held in Sendai’s Cathedral with the participation of three Bishops and about 20 priests with the 100 participants, devoting the whole morning to general reports and prospective plans for the near future. Caritas Japan’s relief and reconstruction activities, with the help of Caritas Internationalis, have focused on the Sendai Diocese which contains most of the disaster area. Currently the number of people living in temporary housing or facilities considered equivalent to temporary housing are still over 240,000 people. Construction of new housing for victims of the disaster is underway in line with reconstruction plans of the country, but because of the difficulty in finding suitable sites and shortages of labor and materials as well as soaring costs, reconstruction is behind schedule. The Fukushima area, which has continued to be affected by the nuclear accident that followed the tsunami, is facing yet more problems and complications. Although already four years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, in order that the people of Tohoku not feel forgotten, men and women from throughout Japan continue to give long term services to assist rebuild their lives. At their February 2014 regular meeting, the Catholic Bishops of Japan resolved to continue the Catholic Church’s involvement in reconstruction efforts for a further three years period.

Caritas Japan’s support is not limited to Church activities. Caritas supports local people whose needs may be overlooked by public agencies that focus on large scale projects. In the period between April 2013 to September 2014 Caritas Japan had allocated a total of 301,990,971 (JPY) to its different programs and projects. This amount of money had been collected both within Japan as well as from Caritas Internationalis. During the closing Mass concelebrated by three Bishops and about 20 priests at Sendai’s Cathedral, in his homily the Bishop remarks emphasized: “We at Caritas Japan want to thank you for the support you have given this effort in the past and we hope that we can continue to rely upon your understanding and cooperation in the future.” (Br. Rodrigo Trevino FSC)

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La Salle Primary School, Hong Kong Visits La Salle Green Hills Grade School, Philippines

The La Salle Green Hills Grade School Department gave a warm welcome to the delegates of the Student Exchange Program from La Salle Primary School (Kowloon, Hong Kong) during the LC assembly held at the FMAC on 30 June 2015. The delegation, led by their adult leader, Mr. Simon Yu, is composed of eight pupils who have come to experience the Filipino Lasallian tradition during the week-long program. They are assigned to different foster families. This year’s activities are a blend of classroom interaction, visit to a supervised school, an excursion, and focus group discussions about the highlights of their visit to our school.

Daniel Choi, Primary 6 Pupil from LSPS , Hong Kong:

Today, on the exposure trip, we went to Manila Ocean Park. What struck me the most was the shock of learning the cruelty of the fishermen towards the sharks when they hunted their fins. They simply cut off their fins and left them to die in the treacherous waters. Among all the activities, I liked the penguin talk show the most, because everyone was acting dumb and saying that the penguin was a hen! I liked Snow Village the least because I never got to take photos because we rushed. The most important lesson I learnt was that we must not eat babyfish because it will damage the wildlife and stop the population growing.

Luis Victoria, Grade 6 Pupil from La Salle Green Hills, Philppines:

Eight LSGH pupils took our guest brothers to our Manila Ocean Park. I was one of those who joined the group. Before we left, we were eager to see what was in store for us. When we arrived, we saw our native Filipino marine creatures. Then we went to a very cold place; my hands and mouth were freezing! It was -5 degrees celsius! Then I bought my stuffed manatee, Guff, at the souvenir shop. We then went to a custom toy store, where I also RKO’d a minion! After that, we saw Philippine Eagles, and one almost dumped on someone’s head! Then we went to a “Penguin Talk Show” and experienced a delight of our marine life. We saw and touched a stingray and left. I have realized, during this excursion, the importance of preserving and caring for marine life, which is a value taught of us as Lasallians.

(Ms. Ace Lyn U. Miranda, LSGH)

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Investiture of Br. Ray Suplido as the 23rd President of De La Salle University, Manila

I was able to attend the Investiture of Br. Ray Suplido FSC as the 23rd President of DLSU. As Brother Visitor, I administered his Oath of Office. Br. Ray was nominated by the DLSU Board of Trustees to take the place of Br. Ricky Laguda FSC who took on larger responsibilities when he accepted the assignment to be the General Councillor for our region.

Br. Ray finished double Bachelor degrees in Education and Arts at DLSU, magna cum laude. He also has a bachelor’s degree and licentiate in Psychology from the Gregorian University, Rome. His doctorate, with high distinction, in Counselling Psychology is from DLSU. He was Visitor of the Philippine District, Novice Master, and General Councillor under Br. John Johnston FSC. Before taking on the helm of DLSU, he was President and Chancellor at University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.

Congratulations Br. Ray! Be assured of our prayers and support.

(Photograph taken from Taga Litrato’s Facebook Album. For more pictures click: https://goo.gl/GrPjMg)

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LUMEN Issue 9 - June 2015

The Official Newsetter of the St. Joseph’s Institution, Singapore is available online. I must say that the newsletter is very well written with a very creative lay out. Thank you Br. Kelvin for the heads up soon this. Click this link to view this month’s current issue and past issues: http://goo.gl/zdW9UT

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Birthdays

Warm birthday greetings to our Celebrants in July!

Visitor’s Schedule

Fraternally,

Br. Edmundo FernandezMyanmar

Domingo Villamil 02 July Angelo Paragas 09 July Butch Alcudia 10 July Thomas Gaw Lu 12 July Egbertus Joikul 14 July Jaime Dalumpines 15 July

Dominic Chamlong 16 July Roberto Casingal 22 July Jeffrey Chan 22 July Oliver Rogers 22 July Mark Maheu 24 July

1st Week of JulyHong Kong, ProvincialatePhilippines, JHIS Bagac

2nd Week of July Myanmar, Maymyo

3rd Week of July SingaporeHong Kong, Provincialate

4th Week of July Philippines, District Council Strategic Planning

5th Week of July Thailand, Sampran

Health and Wellness

Real men don’t hold it in. Brothers I’m sure we’ve all experienced the urge to urinate whether we’re in the classroom in the middle of a lecture, in the middle of a school meeting, or in the plane travelling. Ignoring a brimming bladder could do some serious damage, according to Judd W. Moul, M.D., F.A.C.S., Director of the Duke Prostate Center Division of Urologic Surgery If you hold it in to avoid public restrooms, for example, you could be more likely to develop long-term urinary tract symptoms like frequent and painful urination. Read the entire article at: http://goo.gl/jB4xKV